The idea of ancient astronauts, also called paleocontact, is a theory that claims intelligent beings from other planets visited Earth long ago and interacted with early humans. Supporters of this theory believe these visitors may have influenced the development of human cultures, technologies, religions, and even human biology. Some people who support the theory think that gods from many (or all) religions are actually aliens, and that advanced tools or knowledge brought by these visitors were seen as signs of divine power by ancient people.
Most scientists and archaeologists do not believe this theory is true. They consider it unscientific and not supported by real evidence. Studies published in respected scientific journals have not found any proof to support the ancient astronaut idea. When supporters of the theory share evidence, it is often incorrect or made up. Some scholars also say that these theories can be harmful because they suggest that early human cultures were not capable of creating their own achievements, which is unfair.
Many well-known authors and thinkers who promoted the ancient astronaut theory in the second half of the 20th century include Robert Charroux, Jacques Bergier, Jean Sendy, Erich von Däniken, Alexander Kazantsev, Zecharia Sitchin, Robert K. G. Temple, Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, David Hatcher Childress, Peter Kolosimo, and Mauro Biglino.
Overview
Terms like "ancient aliens," "ancient space pilots," and "paleocontact" are used to describe ideas about extraterrestrial beings who may have visited Earth long ago. Supporters of these theories often claim that humans are either descendants or creations of intelligent beings from space who arrived on Earth in ancient times. They also suggest that human knowledge, religion, and culture were influenced by these visitors, who acted as a "mother culture" that helped shape early human societies. Some believe that these extraterrestrials helped build famous structures, such as the Egyptian pyramids and the Moai statues on Easter Island. Supporters of these ideas point to gaps in historical records and certain artifacts they believe are too advanced for the people who made them, calling these items "out-of-place artifacts." They argue that these artifacts support the idea of ancient astronauts.
These ideas are considered pseudoarchaeology, a type of unscientific study that is often featured in media like the History Channel series Ancient Aliens. These shows mix real facts with fictional stories to promote theories that sometimes include harmful beliefs, such as white supremacy or the idea that non-white people are less capable. Some people who support these theories claim they are being unfairly treated by mainstream archaeologists, who they say are part of a group that ignores their ideas.
Supporters of ancient astronaut theories often focus on large structures, such as pyramids or statues, and argue that only extraterrestrials could have built them. This can imply that Indigenous people, who are often the original builders of such structures, could not have done it alone. However, some Indigenous writers, like Ruth H. Burns, argue that the idea of extraterrestrials can support Indigenous perspectives. She says that denying the possibility of extraterrestrial connections ignores the stories of Indigenous peoples, who sometimes describe their origins as linked to "star-people" from space. These star-people, by definition, cannot be white or "Aryan."
Some stories about ancient astronauts describe aliens as having light skin or Aryan features, as claimed by writer Erich von Däniken in his book Chariots of the Gods? This has led some to associate these theories with white supremacist ideas, even though the theories sometimes apply to European cultures as well.
Most archaeologists have not paid much attention to these ideas in the past. However, as more people began to believe in these theories, archaeologists started using social media around 2020 to explain mainstream views. Scientists and skeptics who have commented on these ideas generally say they are not supported by evidence. For example, Carl Sagan wrote that the most interesting claims about ancient astronauts have simple, reasonable explanations or are based on mistakes, fake items, or incorrect information.
History of ancient aliens beliefs and their proponents
The idea of ancient astronauts first appeared in science fiction stories from the late 1800s and early 1900s, such as the 1898 novel Edison's Conquest of Mars and the works of H.P. Lovecraft. Journalist Harold T. Wilkins introduced the idea more seriously in 1954. It became more popular in the 1960s, partly because of the Space Race and the success of Erich von Däniken's books. However, some scientists questioned von Däniken's claims in the 1970s. People who study UFOs separated the ancient astronaut idea from the UFO topic. By the early 1980s, few people supported the idea anymore.
Carl Sagan wrote a widely read book titled Intelligent Life in the Universe with Soviet scientist Iosif Shklovsky in 1966. In his 1979 book Broca's Brain, Sagan said that he and Shklovsky might have inspired the wave of ancient astronaut books in the 1970s. He criticized writers like von Däniken for treating unproven ideas as if they were real evidence of alien contact. Sagan noted that many stories, objects, and claims used to support the ancient astronaut idea could be explained by more common theories. He also said that while it was possible for aliens to visit Earth, there was no proof of this happening.
Erich von Däniken was a major supporter of the ancient astronaut idea in the late 1960s and early 1970s. His 1968 book Chariots of the Gods? and its sequels gained many readers. Von Däniken argued that certain ancient objects, such as Stonehenge, Pumapunku, the Moai of Easter Island, the Great Pyramid of Giza, and ancient Baghdad batteries, required technology more advanced than what ancient people had. He believed these objects were made by aliens or by humans who learned from aliens.
Von Däniken claimed that ancient art and symbols from around the world show spaceships, intelligent non-human beings, and advanced technology. He also said that cultures far apart from each other shared similar artistic themes, which he believed showed a common origin. For example, he claimed that a carved stone from the tomb of the Maya ruler Pacal the Great showed an astronaut, but experts say it actually shows the ruler and a tree from Maya mythology.
Von Däniken believed that the origins of many religions were reactions to alien encounters. He argued that people saw alien technology as supernatural and aliens themselves as gods. He said that religious stories often describe stars and flying objects, such as the description in the Bible of Ezekiel, which he claimed was about a spacecraft landing.
Von Däniken's ideas became popular in the U.S. after an NBC TV documentary titled In Search of Ancient Astronauts, hosted by Rod Serling, and the film Chariots of the Gods. Critics say von Däniken misused evidence, made unsupported claims, and failed to prove his ideas. Some religious groups, like young Earth creationists, strongly disagree with his work. In 1972, author Clifford A. Wilson wrote a book called Crash Go the Chariots to challenge von Däniken's claims.
In Chariots of the Gods?, von Däniken said the Nazca Lines looked like an airfield when seen from above. However, he ignored the fact that the lines were made by humans until after his book was published. He used a biased view that made readers more likely to think the lines were made by aliens rather than by ancient people. In 1970, von Däniken admitted that the Nazca Lines could have been created using a model and coordinate system.
Zecharia Sitchin wrote a book series called The Earth Chronicles, starting with The 12th Planet. He claimed that ancient Sumerian texts described gods from a planet called Nibiru, which he said was a "12th planet" in the solar system. Sitchin believed these gods, called the Anunnaki, came to Earth 400,000 years ago to mine gold and later created humans through genetic engineering. He said the Anunnaki left Earth after a global disaster 12,000 years ago. Scientists have not found evidence to support Sitchin's ideas.
Sitchin's translations of Sumerian texts have been criticized by experts, who say they do not match ancient Mesopotamian dictionaries. Alan F. Alford, who once supported the ancient astronaut idea, later said that ancient myths about gods may have described natural events, not aliens.
Robert K. G. Temple wrote a book called The Sirius Mystery in 1976, claiming that the Dogon people of Mali in Africa had knowledge of an alien visit 5,000 years ago. He cited their advanced understanding of astronomy and descriptions of stars as evidence.
Claims of proponents
Scientists agree that the ancient astronaut idea is not impossible, but it is not needed to explain evidence and is not supported by most experts. Many "mysteries" that people use to support the idea can be explained without assuming ancient astronauts existed. Supporters of the idea often look for problems where there are none. Since ancient astronauts are not needed, the scientific community uses Occam's razor, which means choosing the simplest explanation, to reject the hypothesis.
Supporters of the idea use ancient myths to argue that stories about gods coming from the sky to Earth are actually about aliens with advanced technology. They compare this to modern examples, like "cargo cults" in the South Pacific in the early 20th century. These groups believed Western ships and their goods were sent by gods as promised in their prophecies.
The ancient Sumerian story Enûma Eliš, written on cuneiform tablets and found in the Library of Ashurbanipal, says humans were created to serve gods called the "Annunaki." Supporters of the ancient astronaut idea believe the Annunaki were aliens who came to Earth to mine gold. They claim the Annunaki later created humans as slaves because mining gold was harming their race.
In the Book of Genesis, Chapter 6, verses 1–2 and 4, it says:
"When humans multiplied on Earth and daughters were born to them, the sons of God saw the daughters of humans were beautiful and married them… The Nephilim were on Earth in those days, and afterward, when the sons of God married the daughters of humans and had children."
Some Christians believe the Nephilim were descendants of Adam and Eve’s children. Others think they were the children of the "sons of God" and "daughters of humans," though scholars are unsure. The King James Version calls the Nephilim "giants." Supporters of the ancient astronaut idea argue that Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit to "be godlike," which they see as the first step in human evolution.
The first part of the apocryphal Book of Enoch explains that the "sons of God" were 200 angels called "Watchers" who came to Earth to breed with humans. Their children, the Nephilim, were described as "giants" who consumed human resources. When humans could no longer support the Nephilim, the Watchers turned against humanity. The Watchers also taught humans about metallurgy, cosmetics, sorcery, astrology, astronomy, and weather. God ordered the Watchers to be imprisoned and created the Great Flood to destroy the Nephilim and humans who had gained knowledge from the Watchers. Noah was warned about the flood to save humanity. The book calls the Watchers "fallen angels."
Some ancient astronaut supporters believe the story describes extraterrestrials visiting Earth, called "Watchers" because they were sent to observe humans. Some of these aliens disobeyed orders, married humans, and shared knowledge with them. The Nephilim were then described as half-human, half-extraterrestrial hybrids.
Chuck Missler and Mark Eastman argue that modern UFOs carry fallen angels or their offspring. They say Noah’s family was not affected by the fallen angels, but the mixing of human and angel DNA was a major problem on Earth.
Erich von Däniken suggests the two angels who visited Lot in Genesis 19 were ancient astronauts who used atomic weapons to destroy Sodom. Marc Dem claims the Bible’s God is an extraterrestrial and that humans originated on another planet.
In Ezekiel 1, the prophet describes a vision of a cloud with fire, lightning, and "brilliant light." Inside the cloud, he saw creatures with human-like forms, four faces, and wings. The text describes wheels with eyes and movement that matched the creatures. Von Däniken, in his book Chariots of the Gods?, suggests Ezekiel saw a spaceship or spaceships. This idea was first proposed by Morris Jessup in 1956 and Arthur W. Orton in 1961. A detailed version was written by Josef F. Blumrich in The Spaceships of Ezekiel (1974).
The Ark of the Covenant and the Urim and Thummim have been described as high-tech objects, possibly from alien origins. In the 1960s, Robert Dione and Paul Misraki wrote books claiming biblical events were caused by alien technology. Barry Downing, a Presbyterian minister, wrote in 1968 that Jesus was an extraterrestrial, using verses like John 8:23 as evidence.
Some supporters, like von Däniken and Barry Downing, believe the Bible’s description of hell is a real account of the planet Venus, shown to humans by aliens. They say "God" and "Satan" were aliens who disagreed about whether humans should have knowledge from the "tree of knowledge." David Childress compares this to the Greek story of Prometheus, who gave humans fire. Supporters think the biblical idea of Satan comes from a misunderstanding of alien visits. Von Däniken claims the "Original Sin" in the Bible describes descendants of aliens mating with early humans. He also says the Great Flood was punishment after an alien "God" discovered fallen angels were mating with ape-like humans.
Childress and others wrote that the Book of Invasions describes the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann in Ireland as "aliens in spacecraft with cloaking devices" landing at Slieve Anierin. The text says they arrived in dark clouds, landed on mountains, and caused darkness over the sun for three days and nights.
In popular culture
Ancient astronauts are often discussed in science fiction and horror fiction across many types of media. In a 2004 article in Skeptic magazine, Jason Colavito wrote that von Däniken used many ideas from a book called Le Matin des magiciens (Morning of the Magicians). This book was greatly inspired by the Cthulhu Mythos, a collection of stories by H. P. Lovecraft. Colavito later expanded on this idea in his book The Cult of Alien Gods: H. P. Lovecraft and Extraterrestrial Pop Culture.
The idea that aliens visited Earth long ago is often found in fictional stories. For example, the comic book Thor suggests that Norse mythology describes real beings from other dimensions, who were worshipped as gods by the Vikings and later return to Earth. However, von Däniken’s work inspired many other stories, such as Eternals, Stargate, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Prometheus, and The X-Files. These stories use the alien idea as a storytelling tool but do not treat it as a serious claim. Some stories focus instead on objects left behind by aliens, as seen in novels like Scarlet Dream, Galactic Derelict, World of Ptavvs, Toolmaker Koan, and A Fire Upon the Deep. In other stories, aliens may be described as an ancient race that helped humans develop, though they may or may not appear in the present day.
Ancient Aliens is a television series that features people who support the ancient astronaut idea, including Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, David Childress, Erich von Däniken, Steven M. Greer, and Nick Pope.
Proponents
Many books and articles have supported the ancient astronauts theory. Some important examples include: